Overview
Even in one day you will get the flavor of this bustling city of contrasts.
The ride to Hanoi is long but worth your time. Experiencing Hanoi was top on our list.
Your ride from Ha Long Bay to Hanoi through villages and countryside will give you as much a taste of Vietnam as the bustle of city life. As in other parts of Asia, life revolves around the family and often several generations are living under one roof. The transition from an agricultural society to that of a more industrialized nation has sent many people to seek their fortune in the cities. Yet the countryside is beautiful, whether barren or flourishing with rice paddies. Motorbikes, often with multiple people hanging on, are everywhere.
Upon your arrival, you will stretch your legs at the Temple of Literature, which was the first university in Vietnam. During 1076to 1779, almost 2400 doctors graduated. In 1484 Emperior Le Thanh Tong started the tradition of printing the names of the laureates of the university on stone steles, which were placed on top of stone turtles.
Our belief in tasting as part of an intro to a culture will be apparent at the Wild Lotus. This converted colonial mansion sets the stage for a menu that takes you on a journey of Vietnam dishes. You may have eaten Vietnam food before, but not in Hanoi!
We will allow you time to walk off your lunch at the Lake of Restored Sword, the site where legend has it that in the mid-15th century, a turtle gave the Emperor Le Loi a magical sword that he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam before the turtle appeared to take the sword back. The Ngoc Son Temple is on an island in this lake, and is a meditative spot accessed by a footbridge.
We will follow this with a vist to highly admired Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which was designed with the assistance of Musee de l'Homme in Paris. It features a fascintaing colleciton of art and everyday objects gathered from Vietnam's diverse tribal people. This visit will show you the diversity of this small country as well as why so many other countries have tried to occupy it unsuccessfully.
No one should leave Hanoi without a cyclo (pedicab) tour. Cyclos are pedal rickshaws that are unique to Indochina, and they have been used throughout the colonial era and still, to this day. It takes 2 minutes to understand that you will flow with this amazing traffic and then you can enjoy the various charming colonial buildings, Hanoi's Old Quarter - 36 streets named after 36 wares which were traditionally sold there. You will have time to do a little walk and see one of the tube houses, the long and narrow style homes in this neighborhood.
With much to think about, you will begin your return to Ha Long Bay and your ship.
- The transfer from Halong Bay to Hanoi takes approximately 3.5 hours.
- Please note there is surcharge pricing for all National and New Year (Tet) holidays as well as peak season. You will be notified of any increased costs prior to confirmation. Contact ShoreTrips with any questions.
- Here are the Tet holiday closing dates for 2020: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology will be closed from Jan 24-27, 2020 and the Temple of Literature will close at noon on Jan 24.
Days offered: 7 days a week
Departures:- 08:00 AM, duration: 10 hours Tour duration is approximate.
